Seemingly Innocent Photos with a Horrifying Back-Story

In the early 19th century, people had to remain very still for photographs, so that the camera could process slow shutter speeds. You’ll notice the mother and father have the natural blurriness that’s caused by swaying or movement, but the daughter is perfectly still. That’s because she had passed away earlier that day. It wasn’t uncommon in those times for families to take photos with their deceased loved ones.

Omagh Bombing

On August 15th 1998, a father and daughter had their photo taken in Omagh, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Shortly afterwards, the red car seen in the photograph exploded, killing 29 people and injuring 220 others. The car bombing was carried out by the ‘Real IRA,’ an IRA splinter group who opposed the IRA’s ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement.

Columbine Class Picture

At first glance, it may look like a normal class photo. But it’s actually a photo from Columbine High School taken weeks before the infamous shooting in 1999. The students in the top left pretending to aim guns at the camera are Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the teens who would end up slaughtering their classmates just a few days later.

Travis Alexander

This photo was found on a damaged camera that had gone through the washing machine at the home of Travis Alexander. The next few shots show Alexander bleeding on the bathroom floor, minutes after being attacked. The photos were taken by Jodi Arias, Alexander’s girlfriend, just minutes before she stabbed and shot him.

John Lennon & Mark David Chapman

This is a photo of John Lennon giving an autograph to Mark David Chapman, the man who would murder him only hours later. Chapman later said that he was incensed by Lennon’s remark that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus,” calling it blasphemy. He made no attempt to flee or resist arrest.

James Bulger and his Abductors

The photo above was taken by a security camera in February of 1993, showing two ten-year-old boys abducting 3-year-old James Bulger from a mall in Kirkby, England. After taking him on a 2.5 mile walk, the boys tortured and murdered him, leaving his body on some railroad tracks.

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